Canada 2023

In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.

A Mari Usque Ad Mare. From Sea to Sea. It’s the motto of Canada and it’s also what Maddie, Jozef, Sam, and us, Danny and Timothy, did in May and June 2023. We travelled from Halifax in the East to Vancouver in the West. Mostly by train.

So what struck us in those sixteen days in Canada?

Flights on rails

Train journeys are treated like flights. No second and first class, but economy and business. Boarding is air travel style. You get a safety briefing as well, certainly when you sit at an emergency window exit.

Cashless

We brought cash, but we could have done without. Only a few times cash was practical for tipping. Tipping lovely Ben of The Canadian for instance.

Food and eating out

Compared to the United States, portions are much more reasonable. Is that a Canadian thing, or a post-COVID-19 pandemic cost-cutting thing?

Also, restaurant visits felt way less rushed than in the US. Some people like it when a meal is quick and effective. As Belgians, we prefer taking our time to enjoy.

Language laws

In Belgium, with its regions (gewesten) and communities (gemeenschappen), we are no strangers to language laws. As train guards, we apply them every day when we bring trains to Brussels and / or Wallonia and travel through facilities municipalities.

But Canada is next level. Some expressions are more French than France. “Arrêt” for a stop sign. Every federal (national?) area or institution is bilingual. Regardless of where it is.

And people are really sensitive about the issue.

Peculiar French

The internet is full of comparisons between Québecois and metropolitan French. But one thing I found really peculiar: hyphening place names.

O Canada!

There are so many souvenir shops, and the maple leaf is on everything. Patriotism is huge in Canada, but not as effective as the marketing of Switzerland. Still, syrup and maple leaves everywhere.

Perhaps Canada wants to underline it’s not “just America“, “like the United States”. It isn’t. Canada has its own customs and culture.

Every city its own vibe

An open door, really. But every city and town we visited had its own vibe. The weekend getaway vibes of Halifax, French savours in Montreal, business-like Toronto, mountain town Jasper, resort Whistler and the green spaces of Vancouver.

Rainbow invasion

Sure, June is pride month, but everywhere there were rainbows and references to LGBTQIA+ people. Jasper was in full pride mode, as was Granville Island.

It was borderline pinkwashing. It’s good to feel supported, but sometimes that support can be… a bit pushy.